Motor driven switch



Sept. 1, 1959 c. A. SCHAEFER EI'AL MOTOR DRIVEN SWITCH Filed Feb. 27, 1956 b m 5 zza HVVENTORS Cdr/ itt/Mefer Kn mend FG HSAM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 United States Patent MOTOR DRIVEN SWITCH Carl A. Schaefer and Raymond F. Gottsacker, Whitefish Bay, Wis., assignors to Square D Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 27, 1956, Serial No. 567,807

10 Claims. (Cl. 20024) This invention relates to an electrical timing control and, more particularly, to a motor driven timing control by which certain desired operations may be automatically effected with an adjustably predetermined order of time sequence.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple timing control of compact construction having contact operating mechanisms requiring a minimum of movement and operating force to effect the predetermined sequential operations.

A further object of the present invention is a simple timing control with the provision of selectively variable control over the operation of the mechanisms being time controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple timing control having readily interchangeable parts and easily variable timing adjustments.

A further object of the present invention is a simple timing control employing switching units normally having a single stable contact position and providing for the switching units an operating mechanism for adapting the switching units to bi-stable operation.

A further object of the present invention is a synchronously driven timing control with an adjustable timer selector with provision for operation in any desired program by readily interchangeable time selector controls.

Further objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the specification and appended drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the timing control.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the timing control.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view IV-IV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines VV of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of one disc of the timer selector of the timing control.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of another disc of the timer selector of the timing control.

Figure 8 is a partial top plan view of the timing control showing a modification of the timer selector of Figure 1 and employing the timer selector discs of Figures 6 and 7.

The timing control 1 of the present invention constitutes a drive motor 2, preferably of the synchronous type, having a gear reduction rmit 3 attached to its rotatable shaft and providing at the output of the gear reduction unit a substantially constant speed of rotation at shaft 4. A drive member 5 having an off-center driving pin 6 is taken along the lines ice secured to the rotatable shaft 4 in a manner to be driven thereby at the speed of rotation of the output of the gear reduction unit 3.

Supported on the framework of the motor 2, by suitable screws 7 and spacing bars 8, is a sheet metal substantially U-shaped support frame 9 having a central aperture at 11 through which the drive shaft 4 from the gear reduction unit 3 extends to position the drive member 5 and pin 6 on the opposite side of the frame 9 from the drive mechanisms. Supported on the frame 9 at opposite ends thereof by suitable screws 12 are a pair of snap acting switching units 13 and 14 having manual opera-- tors extending through suitable apertures in the leg por-- tions of the frame member 9.

Between the leg portions of the frame member 9 is supported a rotatable timer mechanism and individual operating mechanisms for each of the switching units 13 and 14 constituting an actuator mechanism for the timing control of the present invention. The rotatable timing mechanism constitutes a rotatable shaft 15 supported on a U-shaped bracket 16 secured to the sheet metal frame 9 and motor 2 by mounting screws 7. Bracket 16 has a central aperture in the bight portion thereof with a bushing 17 supported therein as by peened-over inner portions thereof to provide support for and to permit rotation of the driven shaft 15. Shaft 15 at its inner end has a drive receiving member 18 securely fixed thereto to receive the drive from the drive member 5 on the shaft 4 of the gear reduction unit 3. The drive receiving member 18 is provided with an off-center slot at one side thereof for cooperation with the off-center pin 6 on the drive member 5. To the outer end of the driven shaft 15 a time selector mechanism is secured so as to be rotatable with the shaft 15 while having parts thereof adjustable with respect to the shaft. The time selector mechanism constitutes the bushing 19 suitably keyed to the shaft 15 so as to be driven thereby and a pair of time selector operating discs 21 and 22 adapted to be frictionally driven by the bushing 19 yet adjustable with respect thereto. The selector discs 21 and 22 are maintained on the bushing 19 by peened-over ends of the bushing operating against a washer 23 and are spaced from each other by a spring washer 24 serving to bias the selector discs against the surfaces of the bushing and the washer 23 to assist in the frictional drive of the discs with the bushing.

The operating mechanisms for the switching units 13 and 14 are shown in Figures 2 and 5 and constitute simi lar mechanisms for each of the switching units. At each of the legs of the U-shaped frame member 9 a return bent ear 26 and 27 is provided one at either side of the center of the frame member as shown in Figure 5. For the purposes of simplicity the operating mechanism for switching unit 13 will be fully described, it being understood that the operating mechanism for switching units 14 will be a complete duplicate of the operating mechanism being described with but a reversal of direction of operation and repositioning within the time control device. The operating mechanism for switching unit 13 is in the upper left-hand portion of Figure 5 and the upper portion of Figure 2. A supporting shaft 28 is fixed between the bight portion of the frame member 9 and the ear portion 26 and is suitably secured in these portions so as to prevent accidental removal therefrom. Supported on the shaft 28 is an operating mechanism constituting a memberhaving a body portion 29 from which a pair o fsupporting ears 31 and 32 are pressed and provided with suitable'apertures for supporting the operating mechanism on the shaft 28. At one end of the body portion 29 a switch operator bolt 33 is secured so as to be adjustable through a threaded connection with the body portion 29 of the operating mechanism. The operator bolt 33 is provided with a locking nut 34 so that the operator may be locked in position of adjustment. At the opposite end of the switch operating mechanism to an offset portion-35 of the body 29 an adjustable spring bias means for the switching units is provided. The switch units 13 and 14 employed in the timing control device are of the type which have a stable position from which the contacts may be operated but to which the contacts would normally always return. To adapt the switching units for stable positioning in either of their adjustable positions, the spring biasing unit at the end 35 of the switch operating mechanism is provided. The biasing mechanism constitutes an adjustable screw 36 having a locking nut 37 for securing it in its adjusted position and having the threaded end cooperating with a coil spring 38. Spring 38 operates between the leg portions of the frame member 9 and the threaded end of the adjustable screw 36 and exerts a bias against the screw 36 to force it away from the leg portion of the frame member 9. The bias of spring 38 is transmitted to the switch operator 33 at the opposite end of the switch operating mechanism where the spring bias is applied to the operator 39 of the switching unit 13 passing through suitable aperture 41 in the leg portion of the frame member 9. Through proper adjustment of screw 36, the bias of spring 38 may be adjusted to just overcome the inherent bias of switching unit 13 operating to position the operator 39 in its most extended position from the switching unit 13. The switching unit 13 is now adapted to provide a stable position in both of its two adjustable positions, so that once operated to a position it will remain so positioned until reoperated to a second position.

Near the end of the body portion 29 of the switch operating mechanism supporting the switch operator 33, an arm 42 is folded from the operator and directed generally toward the time selector section of the timing device. The end of the member 42 is provided with a cylindrical riser 43 suitably supported thereon by a peenedover rivet, or the like, and the end of the riser away from the arm 42 is provided with a resilient cushioning bushing 44 of rubber or other similar material. The cylindrical riser 43 passes through a slotted cutout 45 in a connecting plate 46 and positions the resilient bushing 44 to be operated by portions of the time selector mechanisms on shaft 15.

The operating mechanisms for switching unit 14 duplicates the mechanisms for switching unit 13 and constitute a member having a body portion 49 supported by folded cars 51 and 52 on a shaft 48 between ear 27 and the bight portion of the support member 9. The operating mechanism for switching unit 14 is provided with a switch operator 53 including a locking nut 54, an offset portion at 55 with an adjustable screw 56 provided with a locking nut 57 and a biasing spring at 58. The body portion 49 is provided with an extending arm 62 supporting a cylindrical riser bushing 63 provided with a resilient cushioning bushing 64 extending through a slot 65 in the connecting plate 46.

It should be noted that the resilient bushings 44 and 64 for the operating mechanisms of switching units 13 and 14, respectively, are positioned at opposite sides of the driven shaft and are both in position to be operated by the time selector mechanism supported on the shaft 15.

The rotatable discs 21 and 22 of the time selector mechanism are provided with projecting ears adapted to cooperate with the bushings 44 and 64 for the respective operating mechanisms. Selector discs 21 and 22 are shown respectively in side elevation in Figures 6 and 7 4 and are shown in top plan in Figures 1, 4 and 8. Selector disc 21, as shown in Figure 7, is provided on one side with a single projecting portion 71 and on the other side with three projecting portions 72, 73 and 74. The body portion of the selector disc 21 is provided with three cutout portions 75, 76 and 77 for the accommodation of the projecting portions of the selector disc 22 to be described more fully hereinafter. The projecting portion 72, 73 and 74 are equally spaced around the disc in a position to circumscribe an are where the projections will cooperate with the outside surface of the resilient bushings 44 and 64. The projections are inclined somewhat with respect to the circumference of the selector discs so as to provide a gradual cooperation with the bushings 44 and 64. The discs are adapted to be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1.

The timing selector disc 22, as shown in Figure 6, is provided with a single projecting portion 81 at one side and on the other side with three projecting portions 82, 33 and 84. The projections 81, S2, 83 and 84, as in the case of projections on the selector disc 21, are inclined with respect to the circumference of the disc and are equally spaced about the disc. The projections on the selector disc 22 are adapted to circumscribe a path while rotating with rotatable shaft 15 which will cooperate with the inner surface of the resilient bushings 44 and 64 on the operating mechanisms for the switching units 13 and 14.

During rotation of the time selector section of the timing control of the present invention, the projections on the selector discs will be rotated to circumscribe their paths around the center of the timing control and as a projection, for instance 71, on selector disc 21 passes the resilient bushing 64 it will exert a force on the bushing to rotate the body portion of the switch operator about its rotatable support on shaft 48. This rotation will move the switch operator 53 to push the operator button 59 of switching unit 14 to reverse the position of the contacts of the switching unit. Continued rotation of the time selector unit will carry a projection of selector disc 22 into position to cooperate with the inner surface of the resilient bushing 64 to force it in a rightwardly direction, as viewed in Figure 5, to permit the operating mechanism of the switching unit 14 to return to its original position to change again the position of the contacts of the switching unit. Continued rotation of the time selector discs will bring the projections into contact with the resilient bushing 44 and will effect the same operations on this bushing as has previously been effected on the bushing 64 with reversal of the direction of movement but the same operating movement on the operator of switching unit 13.

Referring now to Figure 3 wherein the assembly of the two selector discs is illustrated and with reference to Figures 1 and 2 showing the position of the projection 81 of time selector disc 22 with respect to the openings 75, 76 and 77 on the time selector disc 21, it may be seen that the projection 81 extends through an opening in the selector disc 21 and becomes aligned in a position to be cooperative with the inner surface of the resilient bushings for the switch operating mechanisms. With the time selector discs 21 and 22 arranged in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 each of the switching units 13 and 14 will be operated in both directions once for each revolution of the time selector. The selector discs are adapted to provide for six switch operations or three operations on each one of the switches with the time selector discs reversed with respect to the time control device and returned to the relative positions as shown in Figure 3. In this alternative arrangement, the selector disc 21 will have projection 72, 73 and 74 in a position to cooperate with the outer surface of the resilient bushings 44 and 64 and projections 82, S3 and 84 will extend through the cutout portion 75, 76 and 7'7 in the body of the selector disc 21 to be positioned for cooperation with the inner surface of the resilient bushings 44 and 64.

Each of the possible positions of the selector discs provides for an adjustment of the discs with respect to the other with such adjustment being indicated on the calibration dial provided on either side of the selector disc 21. As shown in Figure 1, the adjustable scale indicating from 0 to 100 provides for the adjustment of the two cycles of reversals operation with the single projections 71 and 81 in cooperation with the switch operating mechanism. In Figure 8 is illustrated the opposite positions of the time selector discs showing an adjustment scale indicating from 0 to 100 for the six cycles of operations of the switching mechanisms of the paired switching units.

With the timing control device of the present invention, any program of control operations may be accomplished through the switching units 13 and 14 and, with the time selector units in the arrangement as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, for each revolution of the driven shaft 15 the switching units 13 and 14 will each go through their two stables contact positions one time. The relationship of the position of the contacts of the two switching units when going from one position to the other may be timed with respect to the other contacts through the adjustment of the selector disc 22 with respect to the selector disc 21 such that in a position of minimum adjustment, at the 0 position, each of the switches will be moved to its second bi-stable position at substantially the same time the other switch is being moved to its other position. In a position of maximum adjustment, at the 100 position, the switching operations will be effected with approximately 90 degrees of rotation with respect to the other. This position of adjustment is illustrated in Figure 1 and will be effected in order of operations as follows:

With a clockwise rotation, the projection 81 of the selector disc 22 will operate upon the resilient bushing 64 to move it in a rightwardly direction, one quarter of a revolution later projection 71 of selector disc 21 will move resilient bushing 64 in a leftwardly direction to return the switching unit 14 to its former position, one quarter of a revolution later projection 81 of selector disc 22 will move resilient bushings 44 in a leftwardly direction, and one quarter of a revolution later projection 71 of selector disc 21 will move resilient bushing 44 in a rightwardly direction to return switching unit 13 to its former position. Continued rotation on the selector disc will initiate the same order and sequence of switch operations. Relative adjustment of the selector discs in a position between 0 and 100 adjustment will not change the number of operations of the switching units in each revolution, but will change the time interval between rightwardly and leftwardly movement of the resilient bushings eifecting the operations of the switching units 13 and 14-.

With the reversal of the time selector discs to the position as illustrated in Figure 8, the operation of the switching units will be substantially the same as previously described with the exception that with each revolution of the selector discs two additional complete cycles of operations of the switching units will be effected. The adjustment of the selector discs from 0 to 100 will effect a similar relative timing of the switching operations.

With the selector discs in a position as illustrated in Figure 8 and with clockwise rotation of the selector unit, the operation of the switching units will be as follows:

As the time selector is rotated, projection 74 will engage resilient bushing 44 to push it in a rightwardly direction, continued rotation will put projection 84 in a position to push resilient bushing 64 in a rightwardly direction, then projection 73 will push bushing 64 in a leftwardly direction, then projection 83 will push bushing 44 in a leftwardly direction, then projection 72 will push bushing 44 in a rightwardly direction, then projection 82 will push bushing 64 in a rightwardly direction, then projection 74 will push bushing 64 in a leftwardly direction, then projection 84 will push bushing 44 in a left wardly direction, then projection 73 will push bushing 44 in a rightwardly direction, then projection 83 will push bushing 64 in a rightwardly direction, then projection 72 will push bushing 64 in a leftwardly direction, and projection 82 will push bushing 44 in a leftwardly direction to return the time selector to its original position. In one complete revolution with the time selector as adjusted in Figure 8, each of the switching units will have been moved to its two alternate positions three times, accomplishing in this manner six operations of the switching units.

The connecting plate 46 with cutouts 45 and 65 engages the riser bushings supporting the resilient bushings 44 and 64 in a manner to interconnect the two operating mechanisms for the switching units so that both of the operators of the switching units canot be, at the same time, in an extended position. In this manner, should one of the resilient bushings be moved in a direction away from the rotatable shaft 15, it will carry with it the oppo- Site resilient bushing into its position toward the rotatable shaft. The two bushings may at the same time be in their positions of closeness to the shaft, but the two bushings may not be in their positions of furthest movement from the shaft at the same time.

It may be seen that any program may be provided for the switches of the timing control through positioning and selection of. timer selector discs and that at least a pair of possible timing programs may be provided with any pair of timer selector discs by providing for reversal of the discs with respect to the timing control and inversion with respect to each other.

The switching units 13 and 14 may "be connected to perform any programmed operation requiring repeated operations at settable intervals. One example of a duty which can be performed by the switches 13 and 14 is to the repeated reversal of direction of rotation of a drive motor with alternate energization through each of the switching units. The relative adjustment of the two selector discs will determine the time interval between the deenergization of the controlled motor for its rotation in one direction and the reenergization of the motor for rotation in the opposite direction. It may now be seen, with the timer selector assembled in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, that there will be one cycle of reversal of energization with each rotation of the selector disc and, with the selector assembled as in Figure 8, that there will be three cycles of reversal of energization with each selector disc rotation.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims:

' What is claimed is:

1. A timing device comprising a rotary drive means, a programming actuator driven by said drive means, and a pair of electrical switching units, said switching units being mounted in the same plane and one at each side of said actuator, said actuator being rotatable about an axis centrally disposed between said switching units, switch operating means pivotally mounted between each switching unit and said axis, said actuator having projections therefrom in cooperative alignment with said operating means and engageable with said operating means during rotational movement of said actuator to effect programmed operation of said switching units, and a. member carried by said operating means for selectively effecting a simultaneous operation of said operating means.

2. A timing device comprising a rotary drive means,

a programmingactuator driven by said drive means, and a pair of electrical switching units, said switching units being mounted in the same plane and one at each side of said actuator, said actuator constituting a pair of relatively adjusted selector discs, projections extending from said selector discs, said projectionsextending in the same direction with the projections of one disc extending through the other disc, said actuator being rotatable about an axis centrally disposed between said switching units, switch operating means pivotally mounted between each switching unit and said axis, said projections being operative to move said operating means in both directions about the pivotal mounting thereof during rotational movement of said actuator to effect programmed operation of said switching units, and a member carried by the operating means for selectively effecting a simultaneous operation of said operating means.

3. A timing device comprising a rotary drive means, a programming actuator driven by said drive means, and a pair of electrical switching units, said actuator constituting a pair of relatively adjustable selector discs, projections on one side of said selector discs, said projections extending in the same direction with the projections of one disc extending through the other disc, said actuator being rotatable about an axis disposed between said switching units, operating means for each of said switching units, said projections being operative during rotational movement of said actuator to effect programmed operation of said switching units, and a member carried by said operating means for selectively effecting a simultaneous operation of said operating means.

4. A programming actuator for a timing device comprising a first and second disc, a first set of projections on one surface of each of said discs, said projections extending in the same direction with the projections of said second disc extending through the first disc, a second set of single projections on the opposite surface of said discs, said discs being assembled with said one surface of said second disc adjacent to the opposite surface of said first disc to provide one timing program, and said discs being reversible to assemble said opposite surface of said second disc adjacent to said one surface of said first disc with said second projection on said second disc extending through said first disc to provide a second timing program, said discs being relatively adjustable to position the projections of said first disc with respect to the projections of said second disc to adjust said timing programs.

5. A programming actuator for a timing device com prising a first and second disc, a first set of single projections on one surface of each of said discs, said projections extending in the same direction with the projection of said second disc extending through the first disc, a second set of three similar projections on the opposite surface of each of said discs, said discs being assembled with said one surface of said second disc adjacent to the opposite surface of said first disc to provide one timing program, and said discs being reversible to assemble opposite surface of said second disc adjacent to said one surface of said firstdisc with said second projections on said second disc extending through said first disc to provide a second timing program, said discs being relatively adjustable to position the projections of said first disc with respect to the projections of said second disc to adjust said timing programs.

6. A timing device comprising a rotary drive means, a programming actuator driven by said drive means, and a pair of electrical switching units, said switching units being mounted in the same plane and one at each side of said actuator, said actuator comprising a first and second disc, a first set of projections on one surface on each of said discs, said projections extending in the same direction with the projections of said second disc extending through the first disc, and a second set of similar single projections on the oppcsite surface of each of said discs, said discs being assembled with said one surface of said second disc adjacent to the opposite surface of said first disc to provide one timing program, and said discs being reversible to assemble said opposite surface of said second disc adjacent to said one surface of said first disc with said second projection on said second disc extending through said first disc to provide a second timing program, said actuator being rotatable about an axis centrally disposed between said switching units, switch operating means pivotally mounted between said switching unit and said axis, said projections being operative to move said operating means in both directions about the pivotal mounting thereof during rotational movement of said actuator to effect programmed operation of said switching units, said discs being relatively adjustable to position the projections of said first disc with respect to the projections of said second disc to adjust said timing programs, and the member carried by said operating means for selectively effecting simultaneous operation of said operating means.

7. A timing device comprising a rotary drive means, a programming actuator driven by said drive means, and a pair of electrical switching units, said switching units being mounted in the same plane and one at each side of said actuator, said actuator comprising a first and second disc, a first set of single projections on one surface of each of said discs, said projections extending in the same direction with the projection of said second disc extending through the first disc, a second set of three similar projections on the opposite surface of each of said discs, said discs being assembled with said one surface of said second disc adjacent to the opposite surface of said first disc to provide one timing program and discs being reversible to assemble said opposite surface of said second disc adjacent to said one surface of said first disc with said second projections on said second disc extending through said first disc to provide a second timing program, said actuator being rotatable about an axis centrally disposed between said switching units, switch operating means pivotally mounted between each switching unit and said axis, said projections being operative to move said operating means in both directions about the pivotal mounting thereof during rotational movement of said actuator to effect programmed operation of said switching units, said discs being relatively adjustable to position the projections of said first disc with respect to the projections of said second disc to adjust said timing programs, and a member carried by said operating means for selectively effecting simultaneous operation of said operating means.

8. A timing device comprising a rotary drive means, a programming actuator driven by said drive means, a pair of electrical switching units, said switching units being mounted in the same plane and one at each side of said actuator, said actuator being rotatable about an axis centrally disposed between said switching units, switch operating means pivotally mounted between each switching unit and said axis, said actuator having projections therefrom in cooperating alignment with said operating means, said projections extending into the same plane and describing a pair of concentric arcs, said projections being engageable with said operating means during rotational movement of said actuator to effect programmed operation of said switching units, and a member carried by said operating means for selectively effecting simultaneous operation of said operating means.

9. A timing device, comprising; a rotary drive means, a programming actuator driven by the drive means, a pair of electrical switching units movable between two extreme positions, means operable between two extreme positions for individually operating the switching units to said positions, and at least a pair of projections on said actuator arranged for sequentially actuating both of said means to both of said positions.

10. A timing device, comprising; a rotary drive means,

a programming actuator driven by the drive means, a pair of electrical switching units each movable between two extreme positions, a pair of means operable between two extreme positions and arranged for individually actuating the switching units to said positions, at least a pair of projections on the actuator arranged for moving the means to either of the positions, and means carried by the pair of means for preventing simultaneous movement of both means of said pair to one of the extreme positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hall Mar. 29, 1932 Griffey July 21, 1936 Chermendy Feb. 1, 1938 Hieger Apr. 6, 1954 Skidgel Dec. 24, 1957 

